This western has much to admire - cinematography with a dusty autumnal sheen, Dylan soundtrack, some fine performances from regular western actors, most especially James Coburn's as Pat Garrett. It has two typical Peckinpah characteristics - a pervasive air of death and decay throughout and the detached observation by children of scenes of extreme violence, though they do not take part in them. This second characteristic leads one to imagine that the future is likely to be as violent as the present.
Interesting western then and one that gives a unique viewpoint rather than retreading someone else's work as lesser westerns often do. However there are some problems with this film that prevent it from being a classic. Historic liberties are taken, no problem, but having Billy the Kid (who died aged 22) played by a 36 year old Kristofferson must be dubious to those who know anything about the history. The part was played as a mature, experienced villain rather charismatic and heroic instead of an immature young thug. Bob Dylan was a great singer and pivotal to the times, to be sure, but his acting talents as Alias were unfortunately not in the same league.
The main difficulty I found with this is that it's so clearly of its time of making. I cannot in any way imagine this as the reality of life in 1880s New Mexico when all the actors have early 1970s hairstyles and Maria (Billy's squeeze) is played like a hippy chick by Rita Coolidge with the appropriate sexual mores to that era. This, together with the faded effect cinematography gives a distancing to the viewer's perspective and leaves the impression of an interesting dream rather than a true to life western.
Interesting western then and one that gives a unique viewpoint rather than retreading someone else's work as lesser westerns often do. However there are some problems with this film that prevent it from being a classic. Historic liberties are taken, no problem, but having Billy the Kid (who died aged 22) played by a 36 year old Kristofferson must be dubious to those who know anything about the history. The part was played as a mature, experienced villain rather charismatic and heroic instead of an immature young thug. Bob Dylan was a great singer and pivotal to the times, to be sure, but his acting talents as Alias were unfortunately not in the same league.
The main difficulty I found with this is that it's so clearly of its time of making. I cannot in any way imagine this as the reality of life in 1880s New Mexico when all the actors have early 1970s hairstyles and Maria (Billy's squeeze) is played like a hippy chick by Rita Coolidge with the appropriate sexual mores to that era. This, together with the faded effect cinematography gives a distancing to the viewer's perspective and leaves the impression of an interesting dream rather than a true to life western.